Roulette is a casino game that has been enjoyed by gamblers since the 17th century. It has gained popularity in part because it is easy enough for beginners to play, but offers a depth of strategy that can appeal to experienced players. In this article, we will look at the basics of the game, from where to place your chips to how to handle your winnings.

The Game

A croupier spins a wheel of 36 (or 38, on American tables) red and black numbered compartments. The roulette wheel is made of a solid wooden disk, slightly convex in shape. Around the outer edge of the wheel are metal compartments (called frets by croupiers) that have been painted alternately red and black. These compartments are separated by two green ones, which carry the symbols 0 and 00.

After all the bets are placed, the dealer spins the wheel in one direction and a small ball in the other. As the wheel comes to a stop, the ball drops into a numbered compartment. If the player’s bet is on that number, they win.

The Inside Bets

There are six basic bets in roulette: Straight, Street, Odd, Even, High or Low, and Dozens. Straight bets pay out 1-to-1, while street bets pay 1-to-2, odd bets 1-to-2 and high or low bets 1-1. Dozen bets, which can be placed on any of the first dozen numbers (1-18), second dozen numbers (12-36) or third dozen numbers (19-36) offer odds of 2-1.

The Outside Bets (also known as The Six-Line Bet or Six-Number bet in French) are made by placing your chip(s) to straddle the line between two consecutive numbers on the layout. If you win, you will be paid 17-1. The Corner Bet (or Dozens) is a bet that covers four adjacent numbers on the layout. It pays out 1:1 and is also a riskier bet than the other outside bets because you can lose if either of the 0 or 00 comes up.